Circuit breaker



1956 1. BERTRAND 2,774,838

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Oct 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 4

/r w'n Ber/rand INVENTOR.

BY W

Dec, 18, 1956 Filed Oct. 14, 1954 Fig.2

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lrwn Berfrand INVENTOR. $4 74 v United States Patent CIRCUIT BREAKER Application October 14, 1954, Serial No. 462,136

1 Claim. (Cl. 20081) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in electrical devices, and more specifically to a battery circuit breaker for vehicle ignition systems.

A driver of a vehicle often returns to his car to find that the battery thereof has run down because some appliance or other portion of the electrical system of the vehicle has been left on with the result that the power has been drained from the battery.

It is therefore the primary object of thi invention to provide an improved circuit breaker which may be conneoted in series with a vehicle battery for breaking the circuit between the battery and all of the electrical equipment of a vehicle.

Although many vehicles are provided with very satisfactory ignition locks, the structural features of the ignition locks are of such a nature whereby they may be easily tampered with or overcome so that a thief can easily steal ones vehicle. However, if the entire electrical circuit of a vehicle is shut off, then, it would be very ditficult for the thief to steal the vehicle.

It i therefore another object of this invention to provide an improved battery circuit breaker which is so constructed whereby it may be conveniently installed in a car for selectively breaking the circuit thereof, the control means for the battery circuit breaker being of such a nature whereby it may be locked, if desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved battery circuit breaker which is of such a construction whereby it may be mounted in existing vehicle ignition systems between a battery and the grounding frame of the vehicle without any alterations whatsoever to the electrical system of the vehicle, with the exception of changing the grounding strap of the battery.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved battery circuit breaker which is provided with suitable latch means for retaining the circuit breaker in a closed position when the vehicle is operating, the bat- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the circuit breaker which is the subject of this invention and shows the general details thereof, an actuating lever and a latch bar being shown in inoperative positions by dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the battery circuit breaker of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the battery circuit breaker of Figure 1, as viewed from the left side in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal secice tional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure l and shows the details of construction of the circuit breaker or switch portion of the battery circuit breaker; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the terminals of the switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the circuit breaker which is the subject of this invention, the circuit breaker being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The circuit breaker 10 includes a mounting bracket which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The mounting bracket 12 includes a horizontal leg 14 and a vertical leg 16, the legs 14 and 16 being integrally connected and the leg 14 being longer than the leg 16.

Carried by that portion of leg 14 extending beyond the leg 16 is a mounting block which may be considered a first mounting block, the mounting block being referred to by the reference numeral 18. The mounting block 18 is secured to the leg 14, which may be considered a first leg, by a bolt 20 passing upwardly through the leg 14 and being suitably secured to the mounting block 18.

Removably secured to the mounting block 18 is the circuit breaker or switch element of the invention, the switch being referred to in general by the reference numeral 22. The switch 22 includes generally an insulated housing or box 24 which is provided with a removable insulated cover 26. The box 24 has extending through opposed vertical sides thereof terminal bolts 28 which are retained in place by nuts 30 threadedly engaged thereon. The nuts 30 engage suitable washers 32 so as to space them from the housing 24. Engaged on the contact bolts 28 and clamped against the nuts 30'are battery wires 34. The battery wires 34 are clamped in place by washers 36 and outer adjustable nuts 38. It is to be understood that one of the battery wires 34 is to be connected to the grounding terminal of a battery (not shown) of a vehicle electrical system and the other of the wires 34 is to be connected to the grounding frame of such vehicle.

In order that the switch may properly operate, there is provided a resilient contact for each of the contact bolts 28. The resilient contacts are referred to by the reference numeral 40, and one of the contacts 40 is best illustrated in Figure 5. The contact 40 is generally channel-shaped in horizontal cross-section and includes an elongated leg 42 which is intended to be disposed outermost. The leg 42 is provided with a central slot 44 for the reception of the bolt 28 which retains the contact 40 in position. The contact 40 also includes a web 46 and an innermost leg 48. The leg 48 is shorter than the leg 42 and terminates in an outwardly turned sloping flange 50.

Carried by the cover 26 is a boss 52 which includes a central bore 54 therethrough. Slidably extending through the bore 54 is an operating shaft 56 which has mounted on the inner end thereof in insulated relation a bridging contact 58. The bridging contact 58 is selectively engageable with the flanges 50 to complete the circuit between the contact bolts 28.

In order that the switch 22 may be suitably secured to the mounting block 18, there is secured to the wall of the housing 24 opposite the cover 26 a mounting plate 69. The mounting plate 60 is in opposed engagement with the mounting block 18 and is removably connected thereto by suitable fasteners 62.

Extending upwardly through an opening in the leg 14 is an actuating lever 64. The actuating lever 64-is disposed between a pair of transversely spaced blocks 66. The blocks 66 may be considered second blocks and are secured to the leg 14 by suitable fasteners 68. Extending between the blocks 66 is a pivot pin 70 on which an upper portion of the actuating lever 64 is pivotally mounted. The extreme upper part of the actuating lever 64 is connected to the operating shaft 56 by links 72 disposed on opposite sides thereof. In order that the actuating lever 64 may be conveniently manipulated, there is provided an actuating cable 74' which is connected to the lower end of the actuating lever 64 below the leg 14 by a connecting block 76 which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the actuating lever 64.

Disposed in longitudinal alignment with the operating shaft 56 adjacent the end of the leg 14 remote from the mounting block 18 is a stop block 78. The stop block 78 is secured to the leg 14 by afastener 80. The stop block 78 is provided in the upper part thereof with a notch 82 extending transversely thereof and opening towards the operating shaft 56. Seated in the notch 82 is a transverse pin 84 which is, in turn, connected to a pin 36 extending longitudinally in alignment with the operating shaft 56 and towards the operating shaft 56.

Slidably mounted on the pin 86 remote from the pin 84 is a block 88. Mounted on the pin 86 between the block 88 and the pin 84 is a coil spring 90 which resists movement of the block 88 to the left, as viewed in Figure 1. The block 88 has extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof short pins 92 which are engaged with ears 94 projecting from opposite sides of the actuating lever 64.

From the foregoing description of the connection between the actuating lever 64 and those parts disposed between the actuating lever 64 and the stop block 78, it is readily apparent that the actuating lever 64 is normally resiliently urged towards the switch 22 so as to retain the bridging contact 53 in a circuit closing position.

In order that the actuating lever 64 may be retained in a switch closing position, there is provided latch means which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 96. The latch means 96 includes a mounting block 98 secured to the leg 16, which may be considered a second leg. The mounting block 98, which may be considered a third mounting block, is vertically disposed and is secured to the leg 16 by a suitable fastener 100.

Extending outwardly from the mounting block 98 above the pin 86 is a transverse pin 102. The pin 102 has pivotally mounted thereon 'a latch bar 104. One end of the latch bar 104 is provided with a notch 106 for receiving the upper end of the actuating lever 64. The opposite end of the latch bar 164 has connected thereto an extensible plunger of a vacuum motor 119. The vacuum motor 110 is carried by a mounting plate 112 which is, in turn, secured to the mounting block 98 by a fastener 114. The vacuum motor 110 is connected to the vehicle motor (not shown) by a vacuum line 116.

In order that the mounting bracket 12 may be suitably secured to a vehicle body, the legs 14 and 16 are provided with suitable bolt receiving apertures, such as the aperture 118. The mounting bracket 12 may be suitably secured either to the body of the vehicle or to the frame thereof at a point adjacent the battery so that the length of the battery cables 34 may be reduced to a minimum. It is to be understood that the vacuum line 116 will be connected to a suitable vacuum connection of the vehicle engine.

It is intended that the control cable 74 extend up through the instrumentpanel (not shown) of a vehicle and be provided with a suitable control knob. The control knob may be of the manual pull type, if so desired, whereby a single actuator may control all of the electrical system of the vehicle. On the other hand, if desired, it may be provided with a suitable switch to permit blocking out of the switch 22 so as to prevent the stealing of ones vehicle. Further, the control means for the control cable 74 may be incorporated in'the ignition. switch of a vehicle'if it is so desired.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing description of the present invention that when an operator of a vehicle incorporating the present invention wishes to energize the electrical system of such vehicle, it is merely necessary to pull on the operating means for the control cable 74 to move the actuating lever 64 to its solid line position of Figure 1. Once this has been accomplished and the vehicle motor started, the vacuum motor will pull the latch bar 104 to its solid line position of Figure 1 to lock the actuating lever 64 in its switch closing position whereby accidental opening of the switch 22 will be prevented.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be readily apparent that the circuit breaker, when connected in the primary wire of a vehicle, will completely disconnect the Wiring of a vehicle from the battery to prevent accidental fires when the vehicle is at rest.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A switch mechanism for use on a vehicle having an internal combustion engine system including a battery ignition system, said switch mechanism comprising a mounting bracket securable on the vehicle chassis, said mounting bracket including an elongated horizontally mounted leg'and shorter vertically positioned leg, a first mounting block on said horizontal leg remote from said vertical leg, an insulated housing carried by said first mounting block, a pair of opposed insulated terminals carried by said housing in spaced relation, said terminals extending transversely of said mounting bracket, an operating shaft reciprocably supported by said housing, said operating shaft having on one end a transverse bridging contact selectively engageable with said terminals to complete a circuit between said terminals to permit current to flow through the ignition system, a pair of spaced blocks mounted on said horizontal leg intermediate the ends thereof, a lever positioned between said spaced blocks and pivotally connected thereto, said lever including an elongated leg depending below said horizontal leg and-having connected thereto a manually operable control member, said lever including a relatively short leg, a stop block carried by said horizontal leg remote from said first mounting block, a shaft generally aligned with said operating shaft, said last mentioned shaft having 'on'eend anchored by said stop block and having the opposite end disposed adjacent said operating shaft, pivotally connected linkage extending between and connecting together said operating shaft and said last mentioned shaft, a spring element carried by said last mentioned shaft for urging said last mentioned shaft and said operating shaft toward said terminal whereby said bridging contact engages said terminals, a positioning block mounted on said last mentioned shaft intermediate its ends, said short leg of said lever engaging said positioning block and positioning said last mentioned shaft in said operating shaft, a second mounting block secured to said vertical log, a latch member, a pivot pivotally connected at intermediate portions of said latch member, amounting plate carried by said second mounting block, a vacuum motor mounted on said mounting plate, said vacuum motor including a communicating conduit connectable to the vehicle engine and an extensible plunger engaged with said latch member for moving said latch member into latching engagement with said last-mentioned shaft in response to the operation of the've'hicle engine to maintain a complete electrical circuit in the electrical system when the engine is running.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stoeltzlen Apr. 12, 1927 Kucharski et a1 Aug. 20, 1929 5 Liverance June 28, 1938 Closson et a1. May 2, 1939 

